Navigation System for ENT Endoscopy and Microscopy

A novel ear, nose, & throat (ENT) navigation system permits less invasive approaches during skull base keyhole surgery, resulting in less pain and more rapid recovery for the patient.

The fiagon Navigation System is designed to support conventional ENT navigated surgery, including adenoid removal, frontal sinusotomy, operations involving unconventional sinus anatomy, partial removal of the orbital lamina, and resections in the ethmoid and sphenoid bone. The system consists of the FlexPointer instrument; a navigation unit which uses tracking matrix algorithms guided by sensors; a proprietary headrest mounted onto the operating table that holds an embedded sensor, ENT navigation software, and fixation material.

The system uses electromagnetic matrix tracking via embedded sensors in the tip of FlexPointer instrument, which together with the sensor embedded in the headrest, allows for the identification of the exact position and orientation of the tool. With help of a proprietary algorithm and the ENT navigation software, the system is able to localize the instrument and transmit its precise position to the endoscope or microscope that is used for surgery. Conveniently, the system can be integrated into any endoscopic tower or microscope.

The heart of the system is the FlexPointer, which is inserted via endoscopic assistance; the tip of the instrument can also be intra-operatively adjusted by bending. The system can use computerized tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images to plan the operation, as well as record video sequences and pictures during the procedure. The resulting data can be stored to a USB flash drive, or can be directly exported via network. The fiagon Navigation System is a product of fiagon (Berlin, Germany), and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Before a patient undergoes surgery, a 3D map of the operation area is created using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging,” said Timo Krüger, CEO and founder of fiagon. “You have to think of it as a navigation system in the car. But, instead of the map, we use 3-D data of the head.”

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